Use of articles

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An article is a word that usually comes before a noun. There are two kinds of articles in the English language: definite article “the” and indefinite articles “a” and “an ”. “A” is used before a word starting with a consonant sound; “an” is used before a word starting with a vowel sound. “ The” isusedbefore singular or plural definite nouns. “ A/an” is used before singular nouns when the noun is general (indefinite, one of many).

Use of the Definite Article the
rules	examples
1.	When the noun is already known to the speakers; it has already been mentioned or is followed by a phrase or clause which identifies the noun	They study the processes which cause migration. He talked to the politician who developed this bill.
2.	Before a superlative adjective	Nuclear proliferation is the biggest threat of today’s world.
3.	The noun is unique; there is only one in existence	Temperature on the Earth may rise
4.	The context makes clear what we are speaking about	All the members of the committee will meet in the hall.
5.	Before an adjective which describes a group of people but is not followed by a noun. The adjective takes the place of the noun	The activists organized a campaign to care for the elderly.
6.	With plural names of the countries or the names which refer to a group or have the word “of” within the name	The United States of America was established in 1776.
7.	Before the names of rivers, oceans, seas, groups of mountains and islands	They crossed the Atlantic Ocean. He decided to build his career on the British Isles.
8.	Before a title of a person without a name	The President had a meeting with the Head of the Government.
9.	Before ordinal numbers	It was the third attempt to pass the law.
10.	Things shared by a family or community	Citizens are invited to speak to the city council about problems. The mayor visited the library.
11.	Before expressions that identify part of a larger group	One of the members of the Commission was absent.
Use of the Indefinite Article a/an
rules	examples
1.	When wefirst mention of a singular noun	They informed there was a terrorist attack on the city. The attack claimed many lives.
2.	When we refer to a particular person or thing in a group or class	He is a politician. John is an Englishman.
3.	When the meaning is ‘one’, referring to a single object or person	Two members of the opposing groups and a lawyer are going to meet today.
4.	In some phrases like a little, a great deal of, a piece of, what a, such a	It took a great deal of patience to deal with this problem. What a ridiculous law!
NO article is used
rules	examples
1.	Before proper names	Peter decided to become a volunteer. France became the part of the alliance.
2.	Before the names of individual mountains, lakes and islands, towns, streets, stations and airports	The UN headquarters is situated in Brussels. They’re flying from Heathrow
3.	After the possessive case	His speech was really inspiring.
4.	With uncountable nouns	War is destructive.
5.	When a noun naming a place is used in a phrase referring to an activity, no article is needed before the noun. When the same noun is used simply to name the location, use either a definite or indefinite article as usual	They often go to library. The family goes to church regularly. The workers arrived to remodel the library. The new family visited the church in their neighborhood.
6.	Before plural nouns meaning “all” or “in general”	Migrants look forward to the new employment legislation.

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